How it works in New Jersey
These steps cover the court-petition process — the path that applies if you don't qualify for the automatic process.
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Get Fingerprinted
Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken.
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Request your Record
Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the New Jersey State Police Personal Records Request portal.
Cost: $0.00 — There is no background check fee for New Jersey criminal history record requests.
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Review your Record
Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.
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Request Certified Documents
Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.
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Verify the Final Documents
Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.
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Prepare your Petition
Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Under N.J. Rev. Stat. § 2C:52-1 et seq., certain conviction records require a five-year waiting period and certain other convictions require a ten-year waiting period before you can file — confirm the applicable wait for your charge class before submitting.
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Finalize your Petition
Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.
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File your Expeal Request
File the petition with the New Jersey court that handled the case.
Cost: $0.00 — New Jersey charges no filing fee for expungement petitions (N.J. Rev. Stat. 2C:52-1 et seq.)
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Work with the Court
After the New Jersey court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing notice or a request for additional documents. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for, and prepare for the hearing if one is scheduled.
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Receive the Court's Order
Once the judge rules, the court issues a written order either granting or denying your petition. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out exactly which records are covered. Keep a certified copy for your own files.
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Verify the Record is Cleared
Under N.J. Rev. Stat. § 2C:52-1 et seq., the New Jersey State Police and the original arresting agency update or remove the records covered by the order. You can check the New Jersey State Police Expungement Status Portal to confirm the State Police records reflect the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.
If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.
Official agencies
- New Jersey Office of the Public Defender's page on expungements
- New Jersey State Police's Expungement Status Portal
Court forms
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